Representative Butler Carson Derrick

Butler Carson Derrick Jr. (September 30, 1936 – May 5, 2014) was an American politician and attorney who served as a Democratic U.S. Representative from South Carolina from 1975 to 1995. Over the course of 10 consecutive terms in the United States Congress, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American political history, representing the interests of his constituents and participating actively in the workings of the House of Representatives.

Derrick was born on September 30, 1936, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and grew up in South Carolina, where he would later build his legal and political career. He attended public schools and developed an early interest in government and public service. His formative years in the South, during a time of social and political change, helped shape his later commitment to public life and to representing South Carolina at both the state and national levels.

Derrick pursued higher education at the University of South Carolina, where he received his undergraduate degree. He continued his studies at the University of South Carolina School of Law, earning a law degree and gaining admission to the bar. Trained as an attorney, he entered private legal practice in South Carolina, establishing himself professionally and becoming involved in civic and political affairs. His legal background provided a foundation for his later legislative work, particularly in understanding the implications of federal and state law for his constituents.

Before his election to Congress, Derrick embarked on a career in elective office at the state level. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he served as a member of the state legislature and gained experience in lawmaking, constituent service, and the practical workings of government. His tenure in the state House helped him build a political base and a reputation as a capable and engaged legislator, positioning him for higher office and giving him insight into the needs and priorities of South Carolinians.

In 1974, Derrick was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina, beginning his service in the 94th Congress on January 3, 1975. He would go on to serve 10 terms, remaining in office until January 3, 1995. During these two decades in Congress, he served through the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, a period marked by major developments in domestic policy, economic change, and the end of the Cold War. As a member of the House of Representatives, Butler Carson Derrick participated in the democratic process, worked on federal legislation, and represented the interests of his district’s constituents in Washington, D.C.

Throughout his congressional career, Derrick was known as a loyal member of the Democratic Party and took part in the party’s efforts to shape national policy during years of shifting political alignments in the South. He contributed to committee work, floor debates, and the broader legislative agenda, engaging with issues that affected both South Carolina and the nation. His long tenure reflected the confidence of his constituents in his representation and his ability to navigate the complexities of federal lawmaking over a sustained period.

Derrick chose not to seek reelection in 1994, concluding his service in the House at the end of his 10th term in January 1995. After leaving Congress, he returned to private life and the practice of law, drawing on his extensive experience in public service and legislation. In his later years, he remained a figure associated with South Carolina’s modern political history and the state’s representation in Washington during the late twentieth century.

Butler Carson Derrick Jr. died on May 5, 2014. His career spanned local, state, and national office, and his two decades in the U.S. House of Representatives placed him at the center of important legislative developments during a transformative era in American politics.